Kottarakulam Ganapathy Temple

Kottarakkulam Sree Mahaganapathy Temple, Kollam is a popular temple in Kollam, situated in the centre part of the Kollam corporation namely near to the Kollam Civil Station. The Main deity enshrined here is Lord Ganesh; apart from Nagaraja and Swami Aiyappan. The main priest hold of this temple is run by Tamil Brahmin community of Kollam Corporation,consisting of 270 families. The Prasadams here are mainly Appams and Modakams. The annual Vinayaka Chathurthi festival of the Kottarakulam Maha ganapathy here begins on the month of August. Rituals including Ashta Dravya Mahaganapathy Homam, Kalashapooja, laksharchana and pushpabhishekam forms a major attraction here.

History

The temple over the years has attracted a various number of devotees from far-off places, especially in recent years. The temple although a modern one in appearance, is actually an ancient temple, which was reconstructed and developed much to its present form in the year 1984.

The March issue of the Malayalam monthly magazine, Jyotisharatnam carried article on this temple-One of the former priest,Late Shri. Ramayya Vadhyar-who served as the chief priest of the temple for a very long time, also found special mention in that issue. Some of the other notable priests who have served the shrine includes Late. Shri Sankara Narayana Vadhyar, Brahmashri. Narayana Sastrigal (a.k.a. Rajamani Vadhyar), Shri. Kannan Vadhyar etc.

The priests who serve the temple at present are Shri. Bhaskara Vadhyar, Shri. Sankara Vadhyar & Shri. Venkatarama Vadhyar. The Almighty Lord supports a lot of people & families who are related with the temple. Shri. Venkatarama Vadhyar now serves as the chief priest.